The Book of Daniel Page #6

praying to that God of his

for one day,

let alone a month.

I still don't see

how it will ever work.

The king knows

that Daniel and his people...

pray continuously

and only to one God.

Which is why we need

to disguise our purpose.

A more fitting

testimony to your honesty...

could not have been made.

Had there been any

infidelity in your record...

they would have

discovered it.

Indeed, they could find

nothing amiss in my work,

neither willfully nor through

negligence or lack of care,

so they tried to trip me up

with my prayers.

But since worship of the

Most High was not prohibited...

by the laws of the realm, they

had to conceal their purpose...

like poison

in a cup of honey.

Oh king, it has come

to our attention that...

there are those

among your subjects...

who still cling

to the old gods of Babylon...

in the hopes that their line

of kings may yet be restored.

And have not

submitted to your rule.

Who are they that I may bring

them before me and destroy them?

It is not that simple of a

matter to detect them, oh king,

for they are devious...

and work to hide

their treasonous thoughts.

And have you

come before me...

without a plan

for discovering them?

We would dare not do so,

oh king.

Indeed, we have

labored to construct a plan...

whereby the loyalty

of all may be tested.

Then speak of it.

If, oh king,

you were to issue an edict...

that none in Babylon

nor anywhere in the empire...

may pray to anyone,

be it to God or man,

except to you

for a period of 30 days.

But what of the gods of Persia,

my servant, obey?

Well, you alone,

oh king, would be free to pray to them

and offer them sacrifice.

You would stand

as a priest before all the peoples...

and in this way ingratiate

yourself to the gods themselves...

because for an entire month...

all of their worship

would come from you.

Thus, their

worship will continue through you,

and the old gods of Babylon

will be starved for worship,

lessening their power.

How would you

enforce such an edict?

No one would be allowed to

go before any altar or shrine...

for the entire period

except for you.

And anyone found

violating the decree...

would be thrown into

the lions' den before sundown...

on the very day

of the offense.

In this way their

treason would be discovered and eliminated...

In a single stroke.

I approve your plan.

I, Darius,

command it be made so.

In anticipation

of your approval, oh king,

we have taken the liberty

of drafting the edict...

and bringing it along.

Well done.

Bring it here

that I may fix my seal.

Let all the world

hear and obey.

So Darius found no

need to consider it further.

Darius had a great deal

of experience as a soldier,

but very little as a ruler

until Babylon fell.

Once signed, the

order could not be changed.

That every order be upheld,

for the law cannot

be countermanded...

and the laws cannot

contradict themselves,

but each law be fixed,

unchangeable,

for the king cannot err.

And once a law is written,

even the king himself

cannot change it.

Such is the law of Persia.

Daniel!

The king's seal

is barely dry.

Already you

have defied his law.

You made your choice.

You chose your God

over your king.

Take him away!

Oh king, it is my

sad duty to inform you...

that someone has already

defied your decree.

Bring him to me.

Bring forth the prisoner.

Daniel.

He is one of the

exiles from Judah.

He pays no attention

to you, oh king,

or to the decree

you have put in writing.

He still prays

three times a day.

What sort of

foolishness is this?

Daniel is my chief advisor.

No one is above the law.

Yes, sadly, oh king,

no one is above the law.

Bring forth the tablet.

Is this not the edict

from the king,

signed with your own seal?

"Let it be known

that for the next 30 days...

"anyone who prays to any god or

man other than Darius the king...

"shall be thrown

into the lions' den...

"on the same day

the offense is discovered.

"By my hand and seal,

Darius the king,

ruler of the Medes

and Persians."

Call my counselors together.

We will begin the trial.

Oh king, live forever.

There is no need

of a trial.

I am guilty.

Knowing the king's command,

I have disobeyed it.

The commands

of the king are immutable...

and once uttered

cannot be changed.

I shall command

my wise men...

to make every effort

to search out some reason...

that the law

may be found unenforceable.

I do not think

they will find one.

Let them search, oh king,

but only for a short time...

because your own law commands

that sentence be carried out...

the day of the offense.

Already the shadows

are starting to grow long,

and you have

only until sunset.

Darius was angry with himself...

for allowing himself

to be fooled,

seeing that their purpose

was not for his honor and glory...

but rather

for my destruction.

And so Darius

had the law books searched...

to discover if there

might be some legal way...

to spare my life.

It is as I expected.

Why didn't I consult you before

passing that accursed law?

Now I'm forced to abide

by my own decree.

A king who will not enforce

his own laws cannot be a king.

Your enemies know this

and use it to their advantage.

Do not grieve, oh king.

The Most High does not

want you to deliver me.

If he grants me deliverance,

it will be by his

own hand not yours.

It is a privilege

he reserves unto himself.

And now it is time, oh king,

that I may not

break your laws a second time.

I will walk with you,

Daniel, one last time.

As you wish, oh king.

Of those who esteemed

to bring about my death,

I will say only this.

My forefather, Abraham,

came from this land,

and the Most High

said unto him,

"I will make you

into a great nation.

"I will bless those

who bless you,

and whoever curses you

I will curse."

They have surely cursed me...

and may yet live to reap

the fruits of that curse.

And may yet live to reap

the fruits of that curse.

A cup of wine

from the king's own hand.

I cannot drink it, oh king.

It is blessed to your gods,

not mine.

Not so, Daniel.

I have gone to your people...

and asked for wine

which was blessed by them.

In the cup

I have poured no libation.

One last gesture

of friendship.

My king.

Good bye, my friend.

Farewell but perhaps

not good bye.

We have yet to see

what the dawn will bring.

Hear, oh Israel,

Lord our God,

the Lord has won.

He is angry with us.

It will fade.

By tomorrow morning

Daniel will be a distant memory,

and the king

will need us again.

Have mercy on me,

O God.

No, no,

take it away, all of it!

Tonight I honor Daniel

in silence with fasting.

Now leave me!

God, have mercy on me.

In you my soul takes refuge

in the midst of lions,

surrounded by ravenous beasts

with teeth of spears,

with tongues

as sharp as swords.

I call upon your name,

O Lord.

From the depths of the pit,

hear my plea.

Come near.

You say, "Do not fear."

Rate this script:5.0 / 2 votes